Multiple office form bursting apparatus



June 1965 P. A. ERIKSEN MULTIPLE OFFICE FORM BURSTING APPARATUS 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1964 INVENI'OR X .Paulflndarsfi'riksemATTORNEYS June 22, 1965 p, ERlKsEN 3,190,516

MULTIPLE OFFICE FORM BURSTING APPARATUS Filed May 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet2 X5444 INVENTOR PazLLAncZemfi'ri/(wem June 22, 1965 P. A. ERIKSEN3,190,515

MULTIPLE OFFICE FORM BURSTING APPARATUS Filed May 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet3 6 A2A- 120A. 56A 126A. 12% A INVENTOR PcculAndersfi'riksen,

ATTORNEYS June 22, 1965 P. A. ERlKSEN 3,190,516

MULTIPLE OFFICE FORM BURSTING APPARATUS Filed May 7. 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet4 1zzA 60A 126A 56A 126A .71 V eifi-ammnniiiii {am-554.11g I 5 m T 142A160A A United States Patent "ice 3,190,516 MULTHLE @FFKCE FORM BURSTHQGAPPARATUS Paul A. Eritrean, Cieveland Ave, McDaniel Heights, Wilmington,Del. Filed May '7, 1964, Ser. No. 365,627 14 Claims. (Cl. 225-101) Thisinvention relates to an apparatus for severing multiple ofiice formsand, it more particularly relates to an apparatus for bursting suchforms incorporating interleafed carbon paper.

Multiple ofiice forms such as order blanks or invoices usually havesheets of carbon paper interleafed and bound between one side of edgefolds. A row of partly severed seams are provided between the carbonbound edges and the main portions of the sheets to permit breaking ofthe seams to remove the carbons in a group. After the pertinentinformation is typed upon them, the row of partly severed seams must becompletely broken to remove the carbon papers from the remainder of theforms. Heretofore this operation has been performed by hand. This isarduous, tedious and time consuming, especially when there are amultiplicity of sheets to tear through and particularly for weak femalehands.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and etficien-tapparatus for quickly and conveniently bursting the seams of multiplecarbon otlice forms with a minimum of effort.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus which is adjustable foraccommodating a wide variety of ditierent sizes of multiple carbonoffice forms.

In accordance with this invention a pair of clamps engage and securelygrasp opposite side edges of the multiple forms. The engaged clamps arethen moved laterally .away from each other to completely burst throughthe row of seams between the carbon bound edges and the main portions ofthe sheets. After the clamps are released, it is a simple matter toremove the severed carbon papers in a group from in between the multipletyped sheets together with the severed stub edges of the forms withinwhich they are bound.

The clamps may be levers pivoted upon laterally movable base platesconnected through a linkage to a drive mechanism. The use of a serieslinkage for engagement of the side edges of the forms between the clampsand their base plates and subsequent lateral movement simplifies theapparatus and insures a firm grip on the grasped side edges of the formas the clamps are moved laterally apart. The drive mechanism may be arotatable handle which causes a pair of opera-ting rods in the linkageto push outwardly against the driven ends of the lever clamps to firstengage the clamps and then move them apart.

In using the apparatus, the side edges of the forms are first insertedbetween the open clamping levers and base plates. The operating handleis then rotated to push the rods apart and rotate the levers to clampthe edges of the multiple forms against their base plates. Continuedrotation of the handle maintains the levers clamped against the graspedforms while the plates are moved laterally apart. This positivelymaintains a firm grip as the seams between the carbon bound edges of theforms and the remainder of the sheets are burst to facilitate theremoval of the carbon en masse with a minimum of eit'ort.

In a simple advantageous form of this invention, the operating linkageincludes a pair of bell cranks connected to a rotatable operatinghandle. This operating linkage may be manually or power operated, suchas by an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic mechanism.

In an adjustable form of this invention, the linkage includes a cam andadjustable follower. One of the 3,l@,5lti Patented June 22, 1965follower rods is adjustably secured to a lever on an adjustable baseplate, and its effective stroke and the initial position of the baseplate are adjusted in accordance with the width of the form to be burst.A single .series type grasping and lateral moving linkage can thus alsobe used for bursting the seams of multiple carbon forms of a widevariety of sizes. The clamps may accordingly be mounted at oppositesides of a table which receives the body of the form, and only one clampneed be movable to perform the required functions.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereinsimilar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention withcover shown in phantom;

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a multiple carbon office form afterbursting on the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation partially broken away of theembodiment shown in FIG. '1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation partially broken away of theembodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view in elevation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6in an intermediate phase of operation;

FlG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view in elevation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-8in the final phase of operation;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9; and

FIG. '11 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Description FIGS. 1-3

In FIGS. 1-3 is shown an apparatus 16 for bursting multiple ofiice forms12 incorporating interleafed carbon paper -14. Apparatus d llincorporates a base frame 16 upon which a substantially fiat table 18for receiving forms i2 is mounted. A pair of clamps 29 are mounted uponapparatus til at opposite sides of table 18 for grasping and pullinglaterally upon opposite side edges 22 and 24- of multiple forms 12.Clamping assemblies 29 include lever means 26 rotatably mounted uponbase plates 28. Base plates 28 extend a considerable distance towardeach other to provide the major portion of table it The central portionof table i3 is provided by bar 3t in the center thereof. The rotatablemounting of levers 2t; upon base plates 2% is accomplished by brackets32 and pivot pins 34. Clamping bars 36 are attached at the ends of thesubstantially horizontal legs 3% of levers 26. As shown in FIG. 2, thesubstantially vertical legs 40 of levers 2s extend below base plates 28into the interior of base frame 16.

An operating linkage 42 is connected to lower legs 49 of levers as forconnecting the drive provided by operating lever 45 to actuate clamps 20to grasp opposite side edges 22 and 2d of forms 12 and then moverelatively laterally away from each other as later described in detail.Linkage 4. 2 is of the bell-crank type, and operating lever 4-6 rotatesin a horizontal plane.

A movable means 48 includes capscrew and nut assemblies 58 which areconnected to base plates 28 and extend through slots 52 in upper plate54 of base frame 16.

This permits the relative lateral movement of clamp assemblies inresponse to the last phase of actuation of operating lever 46 throughlinkage 42 as later described in detail.

Linkage 42 is of the bell-crank type as shown in bottomplan view, FIG.3, and it includes a crank 56 rotatably mounted by pivot pin assembly 58below central bar of table 18. Lever 46 is secured to crank 56 to rotateit. A pair of actuating rods 60 are rotatably connected to crank 56 bypivot connections 62. The remote ends 64 of rods 60 are freely connectedto lower ends 66 of lower lever legs by motion-accommodating connections68 that accommodate the arcuate movement of lower lever ends 66 to thesubstantially planar movement of rods 60. Motion-accommodatingconnections 68 include a slim end 70 of rod 60 extending through aventuri-shaped hole 72 in lower lever end 66. Hole 72 incorporates apair of outward tapers that permit lower lever end 66 to move through anarcuate path without causing a strain upon the planar orientation ofrods 60.

Linkage 42 is of the series type because it includes the movableconnection between clamps 20 and base frame 16 which permits the clampsto be moved laterally apart after clamping bars 36 are moved downwardlyinto engagement with side edges 22 and 24 of forms 12 and maintainedfirm engagement with the forms, as clamps 20 are then moved relativelylaterally apart by further movement of lever 46 applied through linkage42 to urge base plates 28 of clamping assemblies 20 away from eachother. The use of series linkage 42 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 greatlysimplifies apparatus 10 and insures a firm grip on the side edges offorms 12 as the clamps 20 move through the critical part of theirbursting motion laterally apart from each other.

A resilient means 74 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 including spring 76 and pins78 extending through slots 80 in upper base frame plate 54 biases plates28, linkage 42 and lever 46 to the unactuated condition shown in FIG. 2when lever 46 is released.

Guide surfaces are provided by angles 82 mounted about the periphery oftable 18 for delineating the area for receiving multiple forms 12.Multiple forms 12 are shown in detail after bursting in FIG. 1A. Theyinclude two rows of perforations 85 on side edges 22 and 24 for securingthem in a binder. Clamping bars 36 in FIGS. 1-3 include rows of teeth 87for securely grasping side edges 22 and 24. However, such teeth are notabsolutely necessary as indicated in the other form 10A of thisapparatus later described in conjunction with FIGS. 4-11.

As shown in FIG. 1A, form 12 includes a number of information bearingsheets of paper 86 whose right-hand stubs 88 are connected thereto by arow of seams 90 shown burst in FIG. 1A but which prior thereto aredetachably joined to each other by strips 92 between severed portions 94that facilitate the bursting of seams 90. Sheets of carbon paper 14 arebound between side edges 24 of stubs 88. This facilitates removalcarbons 14 en masse from between sheets 86 of forms 12 when row of seams90 is burst on apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3.

Operation FIGS. 1-3

An intact multple office form 12 is placed on table 18 of apparatus 10when clamps 20 are in the unactuated raised condition shown in FIG. 2.Lever 46 is then rotated in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1by arrow 96. This first rotates upper lever legs 38 downwardly towardtable 18 to engage clamping bars with side edges 22 and 24 and to insertteeth 87 within holes 85. This engagement is accomplished during a firstphase of movement of lever 46. As lever 46 moves into its final stage ofmovement, it reacts against clamping assemblies 20 to maintain clampingbars 36 firmly engaged against side edges 22 and 24 to maintain themfirmly grasped between clamping bars 36 and base plates 23. Thencontinued movement of lever 46 causes linkage 42 including slottedconnections 48 to move base plates 23 with the rest of clampingassemblies 20 relatively laterally away from each other to burst row ofseams between the main-sheet portions 86 and stubs 88 within whichcarbons 14 are edge bound. This pulls edge-bound carbons 14 laterallyaway from in between sheets 86. Carbons 14 are thereby pulled a shortdistance out of insertion between sheets 86 as shown in FIG. 1 by theslightly withdrawn position of left-hand edge 98 of carbons 14 and theexposed portion of carbons 14 shown adjacent the right-hand clamping bar36.

When lever 46 is released, spring 76 causes the apparatus to return tothe position shown in FIG. 2 in which clamping bars 36 are disengagedfrom side edges 22 and 24. It is then a simple matter to complete theremoval of the carbons and stub edges 88 within which they are boundfrom the remainder of form 12. Any female oifice worker can easilycomplete the process, whereas it is an almost impossible job for her toinitially break through the row of partially severed seams. This isparticularly true where forms 12 include a great number of sheets, up toas many as twenty which are sometimes used. Even forms including only asmany as eight copies are very difiicult to sever.

Description FIGS. 411

In FIG. 4 is shown an adjustable form 10A of the bursting apparatus ofthis invention having a cover 100A shown in phantom. The distancebetween clamps 20A and 21A can be varied by adjustment of the initialposition of right-hand clamp 21A as later described in detail toaccommodate forms of varying widths. Movement of clamp 21A carries withit base plate 29A and positioning tab 83A to vary their distance fromstationary positioning tab 81A, clamp 20A and base plate 28A. The heightor length of table 18A can be adjusted for receiving forms 12 of varyinglengths by adjustment of movable positioning tabs 82A along slots 89Awith which they are engaged. Table 18A is formed by extension of baseplates 28A and 29A toward each other include interlocking projections102A and indentations 104A to provide a substantially continuou surfacefor table 18A regardless of initial adjustment or bursting movement ofclamp 21A.

Adjustment of the initial position of clamp 21A is accomplished throughadjusting device 106A shown in FIG. 6 including an adjusting knob 108Aconnected to adjusting mechanism 106A, which is of the lead-screw andnut type. Mechanism 106A includes a lead screw 110A engaged within nut112A and supported by hearing 114A. A collar 116A secured to lead screw110A abuts against one side of bearing 114A. A lateral extension 118Afrom nut 112A is disposed under slot 52A in the plate 54A of base frame16A. A pin 50A extends through slot 52A and is secured to the undersideof base plate 29A for connecting adjusting mechanism 106A thereto.Spring 76A connects a lower pin 51A with base frame plate 54A tomaintain collar 116A on lead screw 110A urged against bearing 114A andthereby maintain clamp 21A urged toward opposite clamp 20A. Movement ofclamp 21A to the right by operation of lever 46A and linkage 42A (laterdescribed in detail) is permitted by spring 76A and slot 52A as well asby the freedom of movement of collar 116A toward the right of bearing114A in a manner later described in detail.

Linkage 42A is of the cam and adjustable follower type. It includes acam 56A rotatably mounted on the lower side of base frame plate 54A.Follower rods 60A and 61A are mounted to reciprocate within slidebearings 120A and disposed adjacent and on opposite sides of cam 56A.Follower rod 60A is joined to the bottom 66A of lever 26A of clamp 20Aby a motion-accommodating joint 65A which is advantageously a balljoint. A compression spring 122A transmits the thrust from collar 124Aon follower rod 60A to ball joint 65A to absorb overtravel of rod 60Aand to maintain firm clamping pressure upon clamp 20A while clamp 21A ismoving laterally away from it.

Cam rollers 126A are mounted on the ends of follower rods 69 and 61A forcontacting the surface of cam 56A. Follower rod 611A includes anadjustable extension rod 128A which is threaded. Threaded rod MBA isconnected to the cam engaging portion 130A of adjustable follower rod61A by a motion-accommodating ball joint 131A. Threaded rod 128A isengaged within the lower internally theaded end 66A of lower lever leg49A of clamp 21A. The engaged length between cam 56A and internallythreaded lower end 66A of clamp 21A is easily varied by rotation ofthreaded rod 128A induced by rotation of knob 133A upon its outer end.As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of tension springs 132A react between thelower ends 66A of clamp levers 26A and the bottom of base frame plate54A to maintain clamps 29A and 21A urged to the disengaged positionshown in FIG. 4. Clamping bars 36A differ from clamping bars 35 in thatthere are no teeth upon their bottom edges. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 7and 9, base bars 134A are disposed upon base plates 28A and 29A adjacentand parallel to clamping bars 36A when they are moved adjacent the baseplates. As shown in FIG. 7, clamping bars 36A wedge-side edges 22 and 24of form 12 between clamping bars 36A and base bars 134A to firmly securethem therebetween when clamping bars 36A are moved adjacent respectivebase plates. This permits engagement of a form in which there are noperforations 85 to be grasped by teeth.

Clamp 21A may be moved for either its initial adjustment or lateralbursting movemnt through slot 136A in base frame plate 54A. The wedgingof side edges 22 and 2d of form 12 between clamping bars 36A and basebars 134A is illustrated in FIG. 7 in which the tails of side edges 22.and 2d are squeezed upwardly at incline angles by the wedging action ofclamping bars 36A and 134A.

Adjusting operation of FIGS. 411

To adjust apparatus 10A for reciving forms 12 of a different width, knob198A is rotated to adjust clamp 21A and its movable base plate 29A atthe proper distance from clamp ZtiA. To help guide this adjustment, aseries of indicia 138A are inscribed upon the top of base frame plate54A adjacent the leading edge 140A of a projection 162A from movablebase plate 29A. This lateral movement of clamp 21A and movable baseplate BA actuated by adjusting mechanism EMA must be coordinated withadjustment of the length of adjustable follower rod 61A. For narrowerforms adjustable follower rod 61A must first be moved out of engagementwith cam 56A, and for wider forms the outward movement of adjustingmechanism 106A isunimpeded. In either event after clamp 21A is set inthe proper position for the new width of form, adjustable follower rod61A and particularly roller 126A upon its cam engaging end must beadjusted into contact with cam 56A. That is accomplished by settingroller 126A within the valley 142A of cam 56A as shown in FIG. 6. Knob133A is accordingly rotated to vary the point of connection of threadedportion 123A of adjustable follower rod 61A with the bottom 65A of lowerlever leg 46A of clamp 21A. This varies the effecting length of followerrod 61A between cam 56A and clamp 21A.

Bursting operation of FIGS. 4-41 Upon proper initial setting of theposition of clamp 21A, a form 12 is set upon table 18A when apparatus10A is in the condition shown in FIGS. 4-6. Operating lever 46A is thenmoved in the direction of curved arrow 96A. This causes apparatus 10A tomove to the condition shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in which clamps NA and 21Aare rotated to move clamping bars 136A downwardly into engagement withside edges 22 and 24- of form 12 thereby wedging them between clampingbars 36A and base bars 134A to firmly grasp them. This action isactuated as shown in FIG. 8 by rotation of cam 56A in the direction ofarrows 144A to move rollers 126A out of cam valley 142A onto anintermediate cam rise 146A. This initial movement of follower rods A and61A is just sufficient to move clamps 20 and 21A to grasp side edges 22and 24 of form 12.

Continued rotation of lever 46A in the direction of arrow 96A as shownin FIGS. 9-11, moves follower rod 61A a considerable distance toward theright in the direction of arrow 148A by movemnt of the high portion 150Aof cam 56A into engagement with roller 126A of rod 61A. At the sametime, roller 126A of follower rod 60A remains upon a dwell portion 152Aof cam 56A, and it merely maintains clamp 20A engaged with the side edge22 of form 12. This engagement is facilitated by compression spring 122Areacting between motion-accommodating ball joint 65A and the lower end66A of clamping lever 26A of clamp 20A. The movement of clamp 21A andits adjustable table 29A is permitted by resilient connection 74A andits spring 76A which allows lead screw 110A and nut 112A of adjustingmechanism 106A to be carried to the right along with the adjustable baseplate 2 3A as indicated by the space between collar 116A on lead screwllllilA and bearing 114A in FIG. 10. Linkage 42A is therefore of theseries type similarly to linkage 42. Clamping action is firstaccomplished and then further movement of the drive means actuated bylever 46A moves clamps 21A and 20A apart by movement of clamp 21A andits base plate 29A permitted by resilient connections 74A and slot 136Ain base frame plate 54A.

FIG. 11 shows how form 12 is pulled apart or specifically how the burstseam is pulled a short distance apart to first break spaced connections92 in the partially severed rows of seams 90. This severs the mainportion S6 of the information bearing sheets from stub edges 88 withinwhich carbons 14, shown in FIG. 1A, are edge bound. The remote edge M5of carbons 14 is pulled a short distance to the right from the oppositeside edge 22 of forms 12 by the bursting motion illustrated in FIGS.9-11 and are thereby slightly withdrawn from insertion between sheets86. A series of perforations are shown on the form in FIG. 11, but theyneed not be present on forms burst by this apparatus and are notutilized in the grasping wedging type of action provided by clampingbars 36A and base bars 134A. Also as shown in FIG. 11, arcuate cutouts154A permit the edges of form 12 to be easily grasped for insertion andremoval. Rear guide tabs 82A are adjusted relative to stationary frontguide tabs "79A in accordance with the particular length of form 12 todispose it in the proper position to be clamped. Side uide tabs 81A and83A operate in conjunction with respective clamps 26A and MA aspreviously described.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for bursting the row of edge seams in multiple carbonoffice forms adjacent carbon bound edges at one side thereof comprisinga base frame, a supporting surface means for receiving said formsmounted upon said base frame, a pair of clamps disposed at oppositesides of said table for grasping and releasing opposite side edges ofsaid multiple forms, movable means connecting at least one of saidclamps to said base frame and permitting their lateral relativemovement, drive means for actuating said clamps to grasp and release andtheir lateral relative movement, an operating linkage connecting saiddrive means to said clamps for actuating them to grasp said oppositeside edges and then move relatively laterally away from each other toburst said row of seams whereby the removal of said carbons and carbonbound edges en masse is facilitated, said clamps comprising lever meansrotatably mounted upon base plates, said lever means including clampingbars that engage said base plates for grasping said side edgestherebetween, said lever means including a horizontally extending legdisposed above said base plates and a vertically extending leg extendingbelow said base plates and said supporting surface means, said clampingbars being connected to said horizontally extending legs and includingrods that push outwardly in response to actuation by said drive meansfor rotating said horizontally extending legs downwardly whereby saidside edges of said forms are grasped by said clamping bars movingdownwardly into engagement with said base plates, and said laterallymovable connection of at least one of said clamps to said base framepermitting further outward movement of at least one of said rods to pushsaid clamps away from each other while grasping said side edges wherebysaid row of seams is completely burst to separate said carbon boundedges and carbons en masse from the remainder of said forms.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 whereby said linkage is of thebell crank type including a pair of rods pinned to a central crank thatis rotatably connected to a mid-portion of said base frame, the ends ofsaid rods being loosely connected to the lower ends of said verticallegs of said lever means, and said drive means comprising an operatinglever connected to said central crank.

. 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said movableconnecting means comprises a slotted connection between said base platesand said base frame.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said supporting surfacemeans is a substantially flat table and said base plates extend towardeach other to form said table.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the edge of saidclamping bar adjacent said base plate includes teeth for engaging formshaving rows of perforations upon said side edges.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a base bar is disposedupon said base plate parallel and adjacent to said clamping bar when itis moved adjacent said plate whereby said side edges of said form arewedged between said clamping bar and said base bar to firmly secure ittherebetween.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linkage is of thecam and follower rod type.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said cam and followertype linkage includes a cam rotatably connected to said base frame, apair of reciprocating follower rods longitudinally mounted adjacent thesides of said cam means and extending in engagement therewith and withsaid lower portions of said vertical legs, one of said clamps beingrotatably mounted in a fixed position relative to said base frame,adjustable and movable mounting means connecting the other of saidclamps to said base frame for its initial positioning at varyingdistances from said clamp in said fixed position whereby said clamps areadjusted for grasping the side edges of forms of varying size, and saidfollower rod between said movable clamp and said cam means having lengthadjustment means for maintaining it in operative engagement with saidcam means and said adjustable and movable clamp when the initialposition of said movable clamp is varied.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said adjustable andmovable mounting means includes a nut and a lead screw connectionwhereby the initial position of one clamp relative to the other isadjusted, and a resilient connection between said nut and said baseframe whereby said relative lateral movement of said clamps ispermitted.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said length adjustmentmeans for said follower rod comprises a screw threaded follower rodengaged through an internal thread in the lower end of said clampinglever whereby said effective length of said follower rod is madeadjustable.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said adjustablefollower rod includes a cam engaging portion, slide means mounting saidcam engaging portion adjacent and in engagement with said cam means, anda motion accommodating connection betveen said threaded and cam engagingportions of said adjustable follower rod for absorbing any out of linemotion therebetween.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said supporting surfacemeans is a substantially flat table, said clamping bases extend towardeach other to form said table, and said bases having interlockingprojections and indentations to provide a substantially continuoussurface regardless of adjustment of said clamping bases toward and awayfrom each other.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said drive means is arotatable operating lever connected to said cam means.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein adjustable guide edgesdisposed parallel to the length of said table and movable vertical toits length are provided for adjusting the position at which forms ofvarying length are grasped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,158,727 5/39Morrison et a1. 2253 2,289,161 7/42 Zalkind 22S-l01 2,579,835 12/51Lather 225-101 2,673,612 3/54 Zalkind 225-101 2,730,174 1/56 Weinstein225101 2,915,234 12/59 Zalkind 225-101 ANDREW R. JUHASZ, PrimaryExaminer.

1. AN APPARATUS FOR BURSTING THE ROW OF EDGE SEAMS IN MULTIPLE CARBON OFFICE FORMS ADJACENT CARBON BOUND EDGES AT ONE SIDE THEREOF COMPRISING A BASE FRAME, A SUPPORTING SURFACE MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID FORMS MOUNTED UPON SAID BASE FRAME, A PAIR OF CLAMPS DISPOSED AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TABLE FOR GRASPING AND RELEASING OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID MULTIPLE FORMS, MOVABLE MEANS CONNECTING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CLAMPS TO SAID BASE FRAME AND PERMITTING THEIR LATERAL RELATIVE MOVEMENT, DRIVE MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID CLAMPS TO GRASP AND RELEASE AND THEIR LATERAL RELATIVE MOVEMENT, AN OPERATING LINKAGE CONNECTING SAID DRIVE MEANS TO SAID CLAMPS FOR ACTUATING THEM TO GRASP SAID OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES AND THEN MOVE RELATIVELY LATERALLY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO BURST SAID ROW OF SEAMS WHEREBY THE REMOVAL OF SAID CARBONS AND CARBON BOUND EDGES EN MASSE IS FACILITATED, SAID CLAMPS COMPRISING LEVER MEANS INCLUDING CLAMPING UPON BASE PLATES, SAID LEVER INCLUDING CLAMPING BARS THAT ENGAGE SAID BASE PLATES FOR GRASPING SAID SIDE EDGES THEREBETWEEN, SAID LEVER MEANS INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING LEG DISPOSED ABOVE SAID BASE PLATES AND A VERTICALLY EXTENDING LEG EXTENDING BELOW SAID BASE PLATES AND SAID SUPPORTING SURFACE MEANS, SAID CLAMPING BARS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING LEGS AND INCLUDING RODS THAT PUSH OUTWARDLY IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION BY SAID DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING LEGS DOWNWARDLY WHEREBY SAID SIDE EDGES OF SAID FORMS ARE GRASPED BY SAID CLAMPING BARS MOVING DOWNWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BASE PLATES, AND SAID LATERALLY MOVABLE CONNECTION OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CLAMPS TO SAID BASE FRAME PERMITTING FURTHER OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID RODS TO PUSH SAID CLAMPS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHILE GRASPING SAID SIDE EDGES WHEREBY SAID ROW OF SEAMS IS COMPLETELY BURST TO SEPARATE SAID CARBON BOUND EDGES AND CARBONS EN MASSE FROM THE REMAINDER OF SAID FORMS. 